Innovative Practices Award

Through its Innovative Practices Award, COA spotlights the inspirational efforts of organizations — their staff, board, volunteers, and partners — who bring lasting change to lives of vulnerable individuals. As an accredited organization or program, we know you are continuously working to improve your services using innovative practices that uniquely meet the needs of your clients and employing distinctive methods for increasing organizational capacity.

Call for Submissions:

August 22 - October 6, 2017

We’re seeking competitive submissions for our 2017 Innovative Practice Award (IPA). Through the IPA, we ask our accredited and in process organizations to share their successful strategies to serve as resources for direct service providers, leaders, researchers, and advocates across the full spectrum of human services.

Winner Benefits

Winners will receive national visibility, and will be announced in time for promotion during the 2017 year-end fundraising season. Winners will receive the following benefits:

Showcase on COA’s website, newsletter, and social media platforms

Local, state and national media exposure (press release)

Guest article on COA’s blog

Webinar presentation

Special IPA Winner logo for your website and marketing collateral

IPA Plaque

Presence at COA’s next conference

Application and Eligibility

Submissions are accepted from organizations currently accredited or undergoing Private, Public, Canadian, Military Family Readiness, and Child and Youth Development accreditation.

Germaine Lawrence is a residential treatment center for girls ages 12-18 with complex behavioral, psychological and learning challenges. Girls live at our programs while receiving special education, individual, family and group therapy; psychiatric and primary medical care; and a wide variety of therapeutic activities and interventions. read more >>

It is an honor to be a COA volunteer. I’ve had a great opportunity to work with fabulous COA volunteers, I’ve grown professionally in the COA accreditation process and I’ve met some wonderful people across this nation who are working hard to help and support children and families. read more>>